Wave particle duality of electrons

Wave-Particle Duality of Electrons

The concept of wave-particle duality is a cornerstone of quantum mechanics. It states that particles such as electrons can exhibit both wave-like and particle-like properties, depending on how they are observed.

Background

Traditionally, light was known to behave like a wave (e.g., interference and diffraction), while particles like electrons were considered to have only mass and momentum. However, experiments and theories in the 20th century challenged this classical view.

de Broglie Hypothesis

In 1924, French physicist Louis de Broglie proposed that just like light, particles such as electrons also have a wave nature. He introduced the idea that every moving particle is associated with a wavelength, now known as the de Broglie wavelength.